Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

SpaceNut · 2005-02-14 05:28:20

Here is some of the conceptions that the news media would have for any Mars mission that is manned.
Living on Mars; Designs for 600 Days on the red planet

SpaceNut · 2005-02-23 14:21:56

Another thought for the Backpacking on Mars since it is quite cool all the time would be to look at items used by mountain climbers.

Tholzel · 2006-04-02 18:21:58

""As far as the scrubber, the crude ones used on early submarines would probably be fine for the sort of short term stuff we're talking about. They used two chemicals, both of which I forget, one to remove moisture, and the other to remove CO2. You could have a small one rigged up with a fan and a couple batteries, no problem. ""

You mean potassium superoxide--KO2--as used in mines as emergency oxygen systems, and by me on Mt. Everest as a rebreather for sleeping and climbing. (see: http://www.velocitypress.com/pages/closedcircuit.php )

The reaction is started by a clorate candle which produces instant oxygen for a few minutes, long enough for the moisture from your breath to energize the KO2 reaction. KO2 generates oxygen and absorbes CO2--so you can "rebreathe" oxygen that already went in and out of your lungs, but wasn't absorbed.

However, the idea of backpacking oin Mars seems farfetched. You would never want to be far from a safe-hole, and that would seem to be a vehicle with a pressurized cabin for driving as much as possible, radios, water, food, etc., and --most important--over at least a little protection against cosmic rays.

Rxke · 2006-04-04 07:14:36

However, the idea of backpacking oin Mars seems farfetched. You would never want to be far from a safe-hole, and that would seem to be a vehicle with a pressurized cabin for driving as much as possible, radios, water, food, etc., and --most important--over at least a little protection against cosmic rays.

I still see its main use as a 'life-saving bubble' on unpressurized rovers. Imagine a breakdown of the rover AND rupturing of the suit of one of the drivers (a pretty hard collision, say...)

too far from a base to get injured/torn-suited victim into safety, but there's a 'liferaft' on the rover, that you can inflate quickly (say a 'sac' that all but instantly 'pre-inflates' w/ a very small amount of gas, so you can jump in an zip it closed, then add more gas to increase pressure.)

So as a 'spare suit' (that admittedly would end your mobility) it could come in handy (add emergency beacon)

Of course, when they will decide not to use the current design of suits, but the 'stretch-fabric' kind, such an emergency shelter would be obsolete, just patch up the suit w/ gaffertape

SpaceNut · 2006-04-04 10:16:16

Here something that might be handing.
Space concepts improve life in the desert

Granted Mars is a lot colder but the design is one that is inflated to shape and has a flexable solar cell build in.

or here

Here is another that proves out larger structures that are inflated as well.
pneumatic structure tents

Tholzel · 2006-04-06 08:32:41

""Granted Mars is a lot colder but the design is one that is inflated to shape and has a flexable solar cell build in. ""

You could as well consider the hyperbaric sack that is used on
Everest to reat High Altitude Pulminary Oedema?

Rxke · 2006-04-08 03:44:32

yeah, exactly.

But one on 'steroids'

JonClarke · 2006-04-24 17:26:16

There are two papers in "Mars Expedition Planning", edited by Charles Cockell (AAS Science & Technology Series V. 107) that might be of interest. They are:

"Mountaining and climbing on Mars" (K Cowing) and "Martian Mountaineering Expeditions" (C. Cockell). they examine issues such a suits, climbing gear, boots, logistics, planetary protection and ball (pressurised) tents.

Jon

Tholzel · 2006-10-23 16:31:20

If you want a lot of oxygen in a small volume, consider LOX--liquid oxygen, which would be lot easier to keep liquid on Mars than on Earth (because it must be kept very cold).

Rebreathers are essential which means CO2 scrubbing, now done with highly effective lithium hydroxide.

Of course you also use chemical oxygen--postassium superoxide--KO3 as is used in mine rescue units. See velocitypress.com under "closed-circuit oxygen" for such a system used on Mt. Everest.

And, speaking of chemical oxygen, maybe the surface of Mars consists of highly reactive oxygen bearing minerals--the Viking exerimetns sure seemed to suggest that--in which case we need only scoop it up and breathe moisture on it to release copious amounts of oxygen.

dicktice · 2006-12-25 08:47:29

All of this suggests to me inflatable "beach balls" of such a size as to be seen from orbit, with internal radio identification, for tracking surface winds. Why? I use helium toy balloons weighted for neutral bouyancy to track air currents throughout large building interiors, to passively checkout the air circulation patterns. Would that be something to know regarding atmospheric circulation patterns and dust devil influences on Mars? It might even be fun to plot their courses as "seen" at roughly hourly intervals from low polar orbit.

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#26 2005-02-14 05:28:20

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#27 2005-02-23 14:21:56

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#28 2006-04-02 18:21:58

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#29 2006-04-04 07:14:36

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#30 2006-04-04 10:16:16

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#31 2006-04-06 08:32:41

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#32 2006-04-08 03:44:32

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#33 2006-04-24 17:26:16

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#34 2006-10-23 16:31:20

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

#35 2006-12-25 08:47:29

Re: Backpacking on Mars - A base in a backpack... possible?

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